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Death and state funeral of Tomáš Masaryk

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Death and state funeral of Tomáš Masaryk
Funeral procession before the coffin with the body in front of the National Assembly
Date14–21 September 1937
(mourning period)
21 September 1937
(state funeral)
Venue
LocationPrague, Czechoslovakia
Lány, Czechoslovakia
ParticipantsEdvard Beneš
Milan Hodža
Gheorghe Tătărescu
Milan Stojadinović
Léon Blum
BurialMasaryk Family Grave, Lány Cemetery

Tomáš Masaryk, first President of Czechoslovakia, died at his residence at Lány Castle on 14 September 1937. His state funeral was held in the capital city of Prague on 21 September, and was attended by hundreds of thousands of participants as well as dignitaries from several nations. His body was then transported by funeral train to Lány where he was buried at Masaryk Family Grave at a local cemetery. The funeral of President Masaryk remains one of the biggest funerals in the history of the Czech lands.[1]

Illness and death

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President Masaryk abdicated on 14 December 1935 from the post of head of state due to health problems. He died on 14 September 1937 in Lány Castle due to pneumonia. The Chamber of Deputies and Senate of the National Assembly called for the mourning sessions of the chambers and declared state mourning up to 21 September. All flags of Czechoslovakia were flown on half-mast, including for example ones on the Czechoslovak exposition on the Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne in Paris.

Lying in state

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On 17 September the remains of President Masaryk were transported from Lány to the Hall of Columns at Prague Castle. The guard of honor by the President's coffin on the catafalque were composed by the members of Prague Castle Guard, veterans of the Czechoslovak Legion in French, Russian and Italian uniforms and members of Sokol. Other night ceremony included guard of honor formed by Masaryk family and other dignitaries including General Louis-Eugène Faucher. From the morning of 18 September to the evening of 20 September about 500–750 000 people from the public were admitted to pay tribute to the remains.[2]

State funeral

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Drawing of President Masaryk's head used for casting his death mask by Vincenc Makovský.

The monumental funeral on 21 September 1937 started at 10 am. Main part of the state funeral was celebrated at the first courtyard of Prague Castle. Among the eulogists were Russian émigré Pavel Milyukov. The main funeral speech was delivered by President Edvard Beneš, where he included famous motto Věrni zůstaneme ("We Will Remain Faithful"). Eulogy was followed by Saint Wenceslas Chorale and 15th-century Hussite chorale Ktož jsú boží bojovníci. Funeral procession was led by the military including Dragoons then left the Castle to the streets of Prague. The procession was lead and commanded by General Jan Syrový. Family of Jan Masaryk were in lead of the family companions followed by President Edvard Beneš and the government. Coffin on the carriage were accompanied by six privates of the 5th Infantry Regiment of the Czechoslovak Army, representing six nationalities of Czechoslovakia: Czechs, Slovaks, Germans, Hungarians, Rusyns, and Poles.[3] Procession route started at second courtyard of Prague Castle headed around the Queen Anne's Summer Palace and then across the Vltava river next to Rudolfinum, seat of the National Assembly. Then it led to the Old Town Square where was built an eternal flame for President Masaryk. Procession stopped there to pay tribute to the Grave of the Unknown Soldier of World War I in Old Town Hall. Procession then passed by the National Theatre through Wenceslas Square to boulevard next to the Wilson Station.[4] Czechoslovak Army then began a final massive military parade. Funeral train then transported coffin of President Masaryk back to Lány, by route through Stochov. Thousands of people lined the whole track to pay last tribute to the President.[5][6]

Foreign dignitaries in attendance

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Religious service

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As a Protestant and member of the Evangelical Church of Czech Brethren, President Masaryk refused service in St. Vitus Cathedral. Final religious service at Lány Cemetery were celebrated by František Urbánek, preacher of the Unity of Czech Brethren and personal friend of President Masaryk. President's burial were accompanied by the choir singing his favourite folk songs Ach synku, synku and Teče voda, teče.[7]

International reactions

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Mourning wreath presented to the President Masaryk by the National Assembly.
  • League of Nations League of Nations
    • President of the Assembly of League of Nations Aga Khan III expressed condolences in his speech at plenary session of the Assembly and praised role of Tomáš Masaryk in strong support for the League of Nations.
  • Federal State of Austria Austria
    • President Wilhelm Miklas expressed his tribute to President Masaryk and emphasized his good personal contacts with him.
  • France France
    • President Albert Lebrun expressed his condolences to the Czechoslovak people and embraced strong friendship between France and Czechoslovakia promoted by President Masaryk.
  • Latvia Latvia
    • President Kārlis Ulmanis expressed his condolences to the Czechoslovak people.
  • Kingdom of Romania Romania
  • Second Spanish Republic Spain
  • Soviet Union Soviet Union
    • Chairman of the Central Executive Committee of the Congress of Soviets Mikhail Kalinin sent a condolences in a letter for President Edvard Beneš.
  • United States United States
    • President Franklin D. Roosevelt sent a condolences in the name of the American people for President Edvard Beneš and praised strong longstanding effort of Masaryk for peace and sympathy of Americans he earned during World War I in the United States.
  • Kingdom of Yugoslavia Yugoslavia
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  • The remains of President Masaryk in Lány Castle before the funeral.
    The remains of President Masaryk in Lány Castle before the funeral.
  • Masaryk's body was put on display at the Hall of Columns of the Prague Castle.
    Masaryk's body was put on display at the Hall of Columns of the Prague Castle.
  • President Edvard Beneš delivers a famous eulogy speech with motto Věrni zůstaneme on 21 September 1937.
    President Edvard Beneš delivers a famous eulogy speech with motto Věrni zůstaneme on 21 September 1937.
  • Government officials at the funeral procession on 21 September 1937.
    Government officials at the funeral procession on 21 September 1937.
  • The remains of President Masaryk were transported by funeral train decorated with linden leaves from the Wilson Station to Lány.
    The remains of President Masaryk were transported by funeral train decorated with linden leaves from the Wilson Station to Lány.
  • Masaryk Family Grave in Lány.
    Masaryk Family Grave in Lány.

References

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  1. ^ "Přednáška Masaryk zemřel: největší státní pohřeb v dějinách". ČSOL (in Czech). Czechoslovak Legionary Association. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Rakev s Masarykem provázelo přes půl milionu lidí. Na průvod čekali celou noc". blesk.cz (in Czech). September 21, 2017.
  3. ^ "Prohlédněte si rozhlasový scénář Masarykova pohřbu". Témata (in Czech). 21 December 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  4. ^ Krupka, Jaroslav (21 September 2022). "Pohřeb prezidenta Masaryka: Zvony, smuteční průvod i Moravec jako čestná stráž". Deník.cz (in Czech). Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Na pohřeb TGM dorazily davy lidí i s legionáři". www.cd.cz (in Czech). České dráhy. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ^ McEnchroe, Thomas (14 September 2022). "Freshly digitised recordings bring T.G. Masaryk's funeral to life". Radio Prague International. radio.cz. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  7. ^ Kopta, Josef; Škrach, Vasil K.; Čapek, Karel (1937). Dni žalu: památník o sklonku života, o nemoci, smrti a pohřbu presidenta Osvoboditele T. G. Masaryka (in Czech). Prague: Čin: Orbis. p. 249.
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